Xbox CEO Shares Her Three Favourite Games Of All Time, Along With Her Gamertag

Have you ever wondered if the people running the world's biggest gaming companies actually spend their weekends getting yelled at by teenagers in a multiplayer lobby?

It is a question that has been bouncing around the internet lately because we just had a massive changing of the guard at Microsoft Gaming. For years, we had Phil Spencer, a man whose love for games was basically his entire personality. But now, we have a new face in the big chair. Her name is Asha Sharma, and she is stepping into a world that is currently facing some of the most intense geopolitical tensions and economics shifts we have seen in decades. It is not just about high scores anymore. It is about navigating a global market where international conflicts and economic sanctions can change the labor market overnight.

Original Story: We all know that ex-Xbox boss Phil Spencer is a massive gamer, but new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma doesn't come from a gaming background in terms of her career. That said, she's still got great taste in Xbox games!

Who Is Asha Sharma and Why Does She Matter?

Asha Sharma is not your typical "gamer bro" CEO. She comes from a heavy hitting background in AI and product leadership, having spent time at places like Meta and Instacart. She was running Microsoft's CoreAI division before Satya Nadella tapped her to lead the green team. This move happened right as the industry is dealing with the economic repercussions of massive acquisitions and a shifting international trade landscape.

When you look at the macroeconomics of the gaming world in 2026, it is clear why Microsoft chose her. They need someone who understands how to scale platforms and integrate new tech while maintaining economic growth. But for the fans, none of that "corporate speak" matters if she does not actually play the games. You want to know if she can hold her own in a Warthog, right?

The "Is She Real?" Debate

Immediately after her appointment, the internet did what the internet does best. People started accusing her of being a "suit" or even a "chatbot." Given her background in AI, some folks were convinced her social media posts were just "soulless AI slop" designed by a marketing team. Her response to the AI accusations? A simple "Beep Boop Beep Boop." It was a moment of wit that showed she might just have the "renegade spirit" that built Xbox in the first place.

But the real proof is in the play history. To prove she is a human who actually picks up a controller, she shared her top three games and her personal Gamertag.

The Holy Trinity: Her Favourite Games

Sharma was asked about her three favourite games on social media over the weekend, to which she revealed that Halo, Valheim and GoldenEye 007 were those three. That is a list that actually says a lot about her taste. It is a mix of nostalgia, survival, and pure Xbox DNA.

Halo: The Foundation of the Brand

You cannot run Xbox and not love Halo. It is basically the law. But it is more than just a shooter. Halo represents the growth of the console industry. When the first game launched, it changed the microeconomics of the home console market. It proved that a Western developer could dominate the space. For Sharma, Halo is likely the entry point into understanding the "core" Xbox fan.

Valheim: The Indie Survival Masterpiece

This is the one that caught people off guard. Valheim is an interesting one - a former Xbox Game Pass addition that has proved a huge hit on PC in particular, and we're big fans of it here at Pure Xbox. It is a game about patience, building, and surviving a harsh world. If you think about it, it is a great metaphor for being a CEO in a world of international conflicts and geopolitical tensions. You start with nothing, gather resources, and build something that can withstand the storms.

GoldenEye 007: The Nostalgia Trip

GoldenEye would be in many people's top lists. It is the game that defined multiplayer for an entire generation. But from a business perspective, GoldenEye also represents the complexities of international trade and licensing. It took years to bring that game to modern platforms because of the tangled web of rights between Nintendo, Microsoft, and the Bond estate.

Game	Why It Matters To Her	Type
Halo	The bedrock of the Xbox brand and a masterclass in FPS.	Flagship Shooter
Valheim	Represents her appreciation for "indie" creativity and survival mechanics.	Survival Sandbox
GoldenEye 007	A classic that shows she has been around since the N64 days.	Retro Legend

She also mentioned in another reply that she enjoyed the classic RPG Chrono Trigger back in the day. That is another deep cut that shows she values "great stories created by humans" over procedurally generated content.

Hunting AMRAHSAHSA: The Gamertag Revealed

The new Xbox boss has also been sharing her Xbox gamertag with folks on social media, and that tag is known as "AMRAHSAHSA". If you haven't noticed, it is just her name spelled backwards. She fully admits that she's "no Phil Spencer" when it comes to her gaming history on Xbox, and this gamertag was seemingly only set up in January of 2026, but she's been very busy with it since then.

Analyzing the Gamer Card

In the last month alone, Sharma has played 30 games, some of which she's got the full completion for. This is where things get interesting for the "achievement hunters" out there. She has an Xbox gamerscore of 10,870 at the time of writing.

Firewatch: She has all the achievements in this one. It is a narrative game about isolation and human connection. She said this one "deeply resonated" with her.
Townscaper: Another 100% completion. This is a "cozy" game where you just build colorful towns. It shows she values the creative, low-stress side of gaming.
A Short Hike: Nearly all achievements. Another indie gem.
Gone Home and What Remains of Edith Finch: These are heavy hitters in the "walking sim" genre. They focus on story and emotion over twitch skills.

She has also been putting time into the big boys like Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, and Vampire Survivors.

The Achievement Controversy

Of course, because this is the internet, some people are skeptikal. Some users noticed she got several Minecraft achievements at the exact same minute and accused her of "boosting" her account or having someone else play for her. Sharma was quick to shut that down, explaining that the account was previously a shared home account used by her family across multiple devices. She has since "fixed" that so only she is using it now.

She is not trying to fake being a "pro gamer." She is "putting in the work to familarise herself with many games as quickly as possible." That is a trait of a good leader. You do not have to be the world champion at the product you sell, but you better understand why people love it.

Gaming in a World of Turmoil

You might ask why we are talking about economics and international politics in a post about a Gamertag. The truth is that the gaming industry is currently a massive part of the global labor market. When Microsoft buys a company like Activision for billions of dollars, it is a huge foreign investment that has ripples all over the world.

The Impact of Geopolitical Tensions

In 2026, we are seeing how international conflicts affect where games are made. Studios in certain regions have had to move because of geopolitical tensions. This disrupts supply chains for physical discs and even the hardware itself. The "chip wars" are a real thing, and they affect how many Xbox Series X consoles can sit on a shelf in a store.

Economic Sanctions and International Trade

When economic sanctions are placed on a country, it can mean that gamers in that region lose access to their digital libraries overnight. For a CEO like Sharma, managing these economic repercussions is a daily task. She has to ensure that the growth of the platform continues even when international trade is being squeezed.

Economic growth in the gaming sector is no longer just about selling more consoles. It is about the "Future of Play," which includes cloud gaming and mobile. Sharma's background in AI is actually a huge asset here. She understands how to use technology to drive efficiency in supply chains and how to reach players in markets that don't have a history of buying $500 boxes.

Does a CEO Need to be a Hardcore Gamer?

There are all sorts of viewpoints that you could adopt about this, and Phil Spencer's love of games was obviously something that endeared him to many Xbox fans, but it's important to acknowledge how being a good Xbox leader doesn't need to equate to having a massive gaming history.

The Lulu Cheng Meservey Factor

Various people have been pointing this out on social media over the past couple of days, including former Activision EVP Lulu Cheng Meservey. She and others argue that while gaming knowledge is great, "competence counts more." You need someone who can manage a multi-billion dollar budget, navigate international politics, and keep the labor market for developers stable.

The Human Touch in an AI World

One of the most encouraging things Sharma has said is that "great stories are created by humans." Even though she ran the AI division, she seems to have "no tolerance for bad AI" or "soulless AI slop." This is a huge relief for fans who are worried that the next Elder Scrolls might be written by a chatbot.

She wants to return to the "renegade spirit" of the original Xbox. That means taking risks. That means backing bold new ideas. That means not just "milking and monetizing" old IP.

Conclusion

Asha Sharma is definitely in for a wild ride. Stepping into the shoes of Phil Spencer is no small task, especially when the brand's identity is being tested by a shifting market and geopolitical tensions. But by sharing her Gamertag and her love for games like Valheim and Halo, she is showing that she is willing to be part of the community, not just a "suit" in a boardroom.

She is putting in the hours. She is earning the achievements. And most importantly, she is listening. Whether she can navigate the economic repercussions of the current global climate and steer Xbox toward new economic growth remains to be seen, but she has definitely made a strong first impression.

So, what are your top three games of all time? Do you think a CEO needs to be a "pro gamer" to lead a brand like Xbox? Or is a background in economics and platform scaling more important in 2026?

Sources:

https://blogs.microsoft.com - The Official Microsoft Blog